Can rack



Sept. 3, 1963 M. E. JACKLIN ETAL CAN RACK Filed July 21, 1961 Merl E Jack/m Earl R. Jac/r/in INVENTORS.

BY glow United States Patent 3,102,707 CAN RACK Merl E. .lacklin and Earl R. Jacklin, both of 1816 Cleveland Ave, Niagara Falls, NH. Filed July 21, 1961, fler. No. 125,733 6 Claims. ((31. 248-446) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in racks for stands particularly, although not necessarily, for garbage and trash cans, especially the former, and has for its primary object to provide novel means for supponting one or more of such receptacles off the ground and in a manner to prevent them from being tipped over by animals, Wind, etc.

Another very important object of the invention is to provide an improved rack or stand of the aforementioned character from which a full can may be expeditiously removed for emptying with a minimum of effort by simply tilting said can into engagement with the ground and rolling it away on its bottom edge, thus obviating lifting said can.

Still another important object of the invention is to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a rack or stand of the character set forth wherein the: can is tiltably retained by gravity.

Other objects of the invention are to provide an improved can rack or stand which will he comparatively simple in construction, strong, durable, compact, of light weight, which may be readily moved from place to place and which may be manufactured at low cost.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawing forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view, showing a can rack or stand constructed in accordance with the present invention in use;

FIGURE 2 is a view in vertical section through the device on an enlarged scale, taken substantially on the line 22 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary view in vertical section, showing the permanent connection of one end of the can retaining chain to the stand;

FIGURE 4 is a view substantially similar to FIGURE 3 but showing means for detachably connecting the other end of the chain to the stand; and

FIGURE 5 is a view showing the stand adapted to accommodate a pair of cans in use.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, it will be seen that the embodiment of the present invention which has been illustrated in FIGURE 1 of said drawing comprises a tube having its end portions bent in a manner to provide a pair of spaced, tubular posts 6 of suitable metal. The lower ends of the tubular posts 6 are welded at intermediate points on a pair of spaced, parallel, horizontal tubular feet 7, also of suitable metal. It is to be noted that the posts 6 are welded to the feet 7 forwardly of the transverse centers of said feet.

Extending between the lower portions of the posts 6 and having its ends afiixed as by welding thereto is a tubular metallic can supporting bar or rod 8. A conventional garbage can mounted on the supporting bar 8 is indicated at '9, said can including the usual cover 10. Formed integrally with the upper ends of the posts 6 is a generally U-shaped horizontal rest 11 for the reception of the can 9.

A retaining chain 12 for the can 9 has one end permanently connected to the upper portion of one of the posts 6 as indicated at 13 (FIGURE 3). The other 3,102,707 Patented Sept. 3, 1963 or free end of the chain 12 is provided with a conventional snap hook 14. The snap hook 14 is engageable with an eyebolt 15 on the upper portion of the other post 6 for detachably connecting said chain thereto.

It is thought that the use of the rack or stand will be readily apparent from a consideration of the foregoing. Briefly, when the can 9 is mounted in the stand substantially all of the weight is carried by the supporting bar or rod 3. The can 9 is tiltable on the rod 8 and, when positioned thereon, is pushed rearwardly slightly beyond its center of gravity whereby said can is caused to lean lightly by gravity against the rest 11 in an obvious manner. The chain 12 is then secured across the front of the can for positively retaining same in the rack or stand. To remove the can 9 for emptying, the chain 12 is, of course, disconnected at 13. The can 9 is then rocked or tilted forwardly and downwardly on the supporting bar or rod 8 for bringing the lower edge of said can to rest on the ground. The can is then rolled away to the point at which it is to be emptied.

In the embodiment of FIGURE 5 of the drawing, reference numeral 17 designates generally a rack or stand of sufiicient width to accommodate a pair of cans, as indicated at 18. In other respects this form of the invention is similar in construction to the embodiment of FIGURE 1 of the drawings. Of course, the rack may be of any suitable width to accommodate any desired number of cans.

It is believed that the many advantages of a can rack constructed in accordance with the present invention will be readily understood and although preferred embodiments of the device are as illustrated and described, it is i to be understood that further modifications may be made which will fall within the scope of the invention as claimed. For example, the members 6, 7, 8, etc, may be of any suitable dimensions. Also, the various members may be of angle iron and bolted or otherwise detachably secured together whereby the stand may be shipped in a knockdown or unassembled condition if desired.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope or the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. In combination, a rack and a can removably engaged therewith, said can being vertically elongated and having a vertical axis extending through its center of gravity, said rack comprising a base having a pair of spaced upstanding vertical posts thereon, a horizontal can support means disposed between and fixedly secured at its opposite ends to each of said posts adjacent but spaced from the lower ends thereof, a U-shaped horizontally extending can back rest, said back rest having horizontal legs secured at their forward ends each to one of said posts and a central portion joining the rear ends of said legs, said support means being so spaced from said central portion that it will support said can forwardly of said vertical axis when the can engages said back rest central portion thereby causing the can to tilt upon said support means under the influence of gravity and incline backwardly against said back rest central portion.

2. A can rack in accordance with claim 1, together with a flexible member extending between the posts and detachable from one of said posts for positively securing the can in the rest.

3. The combination of claim 1, together with a chain mounted on one of the posts and :detachably connected to the other of said posts for positively retaining the can in the rest.

4. The combination of claim 1 wherein said back rest and posts consist of a one-piece angulated rod-like element.

5. The combination of claim 1 including a retaining member secured detachably to said posts adjacent the junction of said back rest legs with said posts, said retaining member closing the open front end of said U- shaped back rest and retaining said can therein.

6. The combination of claim 1 wherein said support means comprises a single rod disposed in side-by-side relation With said central portion and engages and supports said can across the entire Width of its bottom.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Brustein Dec. 8, 1953 York June 19, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS France May 26, 1922 

1. IN COMBINATION, A RACK AND A CAN REMOVABLY ENGAGED THEREWITH, SAID CAN BEING VERTICALLY ELONGATED AND HAVING A VERTICAL AXIS EXTENDING THROUGH ITS CENTER OF GRAVITY, SAID RACK COMPRISING A BASE HAVING A PAIR OF SPACED UPSTANDING VERTICAL POSTS THEREON, A HORIZONTAL CAN SUPPORT MEANS DISPOSED BETWEEN AND FIXEDLY SECURED AT ITS OPPOSITE ENDS TO EACH OF SAID POSTS ADJACENT BUT SPACED FROM THE LOWER ENDS THEREOF, A U-SHAPED HORIZONTALLY EXTENDING CAN BACK REST, SAID BACK REST HAVING HORIZONTAL LEGS SECURED AT THEIR FORWARD ENDS EACH TO ONE OF SAID POSTS AND A CENTRAL PORTION JOINING THE REAR ENDS OF SAID LEGS, SAID SUPPORT MEANS BEING SO SPACED FROM SAID CENTRAL PORTION THAT IT WILL SUPPORT SAID CAN FORWARDLY OF SAID VERTICAL AXIS WHEN THE CAN ENGAGES SAID BACK REST CENTRAL PORTION THEREBY CAUSING THE CAN TO TILT UPON SAID SUPPORT MEANS UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF GRAVITY AND INCLINE BACKWARDLY AGAINST SAID BACK REST CENTRAL PORTION. 